Frances Heidensohn

Professor Frances Heidensohn is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). A pioneering figure in feminist criminology, her work focuses on gender dynamics in crime, law enforcement, and international justice systems. She holds a Sociology degree from LSE, where she also taught until 1974. Subsequent roles included Director of Studies in Social Policy at the Civil Service College and Chair of Social Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London (1994–2004). She has held visiting professorships at Queen's University Belfast, University of Montreal, and McGill University.

Her research expertise spans feminist perspectives in criminology, gender and crime, and international comparative studies. Notable contributions include analyses of women's roles in policing, gender disparities in criminal justice systems, and global crime patterns. She has authored influential works such as Gender and Justice: New Concepts and Approaches (2006) and Gender and Policing: Comparative Perspectives (2000).

Key awards include the 2000 ASC International Division Book Award, 2004 Sellin Glueck Award for contributions to international criminology, and the 2018 British Society of Criminology's Outstanding Achievement Award. Her career reflects a deep engagement with both academic research and institutional leadership in sociology and criminology.